"Story from Bear Country" is written in free verse, which means its form grows and varies in relation to the changing moods of the subject matter, unlike formal verse, which is constructed using a set rhyme scheme or number of accented beats per line. Matching this poem's simple tone, Silko uses lines that are short, usually only three or six words long. Similarly, each stanza (which literally means "room" in Italian) is constructed using around seven lines each. Silko arranges one or two images in these "rooms," keeping the poem uncluttered and accessible. In this sense, the poet has constructed a simple framework for a simple voice, the short lines and stanzas helping the reader make the journey through this unfamiliar landscape, wary of bears.